Guillermo del Toro’s film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, released recently, offers a striking reinterpretation of the classic horror and science fiction novel. By weaving his distinctive artistic style into the story, del Toro brings fresh emotional and thematic depth while retaining key elements of the source material.
Victor Frankenstein as a Flawed and Villainous Figure
Del Toro’s Frankenstein reinterprets Victor Frankenstein not as a tragic hero but as a deeply flawed and often harsh figure. Throughout the narrative, Victor is portrayed in a far less sympathetic light than in many previous adaptations. His arrogance and volatile nature underline his reckless pursuit of scientific achievements, highlighting his inability to face his own mistakes.
This darker characterization draws closer to Mary Shelley’s original depiction of Victor as a brooding, Byronic hero consumed by pride and self-delusion. His strained relationships—especially with his brother’s fiancée and within his family—reveal his self-centeredness. Victor’s tendency to avoid responsibility is clear as he deceitfully shifts blame for tragic deaths, such as those of Henrich and Elizabeth, onto others.
It is only after the death of his brother and hearing a final accusation branding him the “true monster” that Victor begins to confront the consequences of his actions. His desire for vengeance against his own creation sparks a relentless and bloody pursuit. In his final moments, Victor’s sincere remorse and plea for forgiveness from the creature humanize him, providing a rare moment of reconciliation as he dies peacefully.
The Creature and Elizabeth’s Heartbreaking Connection
A central emotional storyline in del Toro’s Frankenstein is the unexpected bond between the creature and Elizabeth. Their initial encounter sparks genuine empathy from Elizabeth, in stark contrast to Victor’s cruelty. This compassionate interaction marks the moment when the creature first shows true humanity and sets the direction for his emotional journey.
The growing relationship between Elizabeth and the creature becomes pivotal, also fueling Victor’s jealousy and hatred. When the creature speaks Elizabeth’s name, he is given a fleeting chance for redemption, but Victor’s violent reaction—driven by jealousy over Elizabeth—shatters this possibility.
Del Toro’s inclusion of a romantic element reflects the director’s history of exploring unconventional love stories, such as in The Shape of Water. Tragically, this connection ends in Elizabeth’s death on her wedding night after Victor shoots at the creature, unwittingly fatally wounding her. Elizabeth dies alone beside the creature, who, due to his immortality, cannot join her in death. This loss intensifies the creature’s transformation into a vengeful figure, deepening the film’s tragic tone as the conflict between creator and creation becomes fatally intertwined with their shared love for Elizabeth.
Symbolism of the Angel of Death in Victor’s Dream Visions
Throughout the film, Victor experiences recurring visions of an archangel, a figure rooted in a childhood statue he cherishes. These dream visits initially represent hope and spiritual guidance amidst his scientific endeavors. However, as Victor’s fortunes decline, the angel’s appearance darkens dramatically.
The angel’s mask eventually falls away, revealing a grim skeletal visage engulfed in flames—a powerful symbol of impending doom rather than salvation. This transformation reflects Victor’s descent from hopeful ambition to tragic regret. The flames surrounding the angel foreshadow the fiery destruction of Victor’s laboratory, tying the imagery tightly to his catastrophic downfall.
This spectral angel serves multiple symbolic roles: it represents death’s inescapable shadow over Victor’s life and ambitions, the fluctuating nature of his internal drive—from noble inspiration to grim despair—and a harbinger of mortality for those close to him. The angel appears after the death of Victor’s mother and resurfaces as Henrich, Elizabeth, and William die, suggesting that Victor himself becomes an inadvertent agent of death around him.
Del Toro’s Revision of Frankenstein’s Ending
The framing device of the film closely follows Shelley’s original novel, with Victor recounting his story to a ship’s captain in the Arctic and the creature arriving to mourn his creator. However, key differences drastically alter the conclusion and its tone.
Unlike the novel’s Victor, who dies without fully admitting to his mistakes and still clings to selfish ambitions, del Toro’s version allows Victor to express genuine remorse and ask for forgiveness before passing. His final exchange with the creature encourages the latter to embrace life, a hopeful but ambiguous conclusion that opens possibilities for the creature’s future.
A significant departure from the source is the creature’s immortality, a side effect of Victor’s experiments that grant him an advanced healing ability. While the novel ends on a somber note with the creature contemplating suicide, the film closes with a bittersweet sense of hope, highlighting themes of redemption and perseverance beyond death.
Exploring the Deeper Themes in Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein
At its core, del Toro’s Frankenstein is an exploration of human flaws and the monstrous outcomes born from ego and ambition. The film illustrates how personal failings and destructive pride can turn people into villains, sometimes more frightening than any supernatural creation.
This theme extends beyond Victor, as seen in the characters of Leopold Frankenstein and Henrich Harlander. Leopold, Victor’s father and a brilliant surgeon, imposes harsh, even abusive lessons on his son. This cycle of cruelty connects directly to Victor’s failure to nurture his creation with kindness, suggesting that monstrous behavior is inherited as well as chosen.
Henrich, Victor’s main benefactor, initially shows enthusiasm for scientific breakthroughs but ultimately reveals his own desperation—to extend his life despite suffering from syphilis. His frustrated outburst that damages Victor’s machinery leads to his own death, underscoring the dangerous intersection of human desire and scientific hubris.
In contrast, the creature’s relationship with a blind old man provides a stark counterpoint. This humble, kind figure teaches the creature language and compassion, leaving a profound impact on his development. The old man’s quiet passing after a wolf attack emphasizes that true humanity is revealed through empathy and gentle connections.
Throughout the story, violent and impulsive actions result in tragedy for virtually every character. Yet, amid this darkness, moments of kindness offer glimpses of hope and transformation. In del Toro’s retelling, empathy becomes the strongest catalyst for change, illustrating a powerful message about the potential for humanity to overcome its darker impulses.
Principal Cast Portraying Key Roles
Oscar Isaac leads as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, embodying the complex and often tormented scientist. Jacob Elordi portrays the creature, delivering a performance that captures both monstrous strength and vulnerable humanity, crucial to del Toro’s emotionally charged narrative.
